Have you tried doing more listening? I know I talk about it all the time, but listening is really a powerful piece of being Thoughtfully Fit. (Look at me, talking when all I do is tell you to listen! But a listening blog is really not that exciting to read.) Listening can really help you challenge some of your own assumptions, get more clear about the needs and motivations of others, and generally help those around you feel heard. [Read more…]

What does practicing flexibility with your family look like?

Family relationships are often so close that it can be very hard to accept behaviors that we don’t like, as they are usually a big part of our daily lives. It’s easy to get caught up in wishing things would be different, but all we can really change are our reactions to others’ behavior. It is also important to acknowledge that we may not understand everything that might be going on, and try to step into empathy as much as possible. This is hard; I know first hand.[Read more…]

Do you feel yourself already getting filled with dread about spending time with your family over the holidays? You love the traditions and the time together, but you could do without the judgement over your parenting style, or the way your brother still acts like you’re twelve, or the lack of open communication about the things that really matter.[Read more…]

When someone tells you about some challenge they are having, what do you do? Do you feel the need to fix it? Empathize? Chime in? And when you do this, does the other person ever get mad at you? What’s that’s all about?! [Read more…]

I am a recovering perfectionist who is not actually in recovery. I try to keep those perfectionist forces at bay, but they keep sneaking back in. If you struggle like I do, I want to encourage you to take on a different perspective. If things are not perfect, can you find a way to embrace and enjoy imperfection? [Read more…]